Patch antenna having a non-feeding element formed on a side surface of a dielectric

Abstract

In a patch antenna including a dielectric having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side surface, a radiation element formed on the top surface of the dielectric, and a ground conductor formed on the bottom surface of the dielectric, a ring-shaped non-feeding element is formed on the side surface of the dielectric. The non-feeding element preferably may be formed on the side surface of the dielectric in the vicinity of the top surface of the dielectric. In addition, the non-feeding element may be formed by pasting a copper tape or by thick film printing.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority to prior Japanese patent application JP 2003-374222, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to a digital radio receiver for receiving an electric wave from an artificial satellite (that may be called a “satellite wave”) or an electric wave on the ground (that may be called a “terrestrial wave”) to listen in a digital radio broadcasting and, in particular, to a patch antenna for use in the digital radio receiver.[0003]In recent years, a digital radio receiver, which receives the satellite wave or the terrestrial wave to listen the digital radio broadcasting, has been developed and is put to practical use in the United State of America. The digital radio receiver is mounted on a mobile station such as an automobile and can receive an electric wave having a frequency of about 2.3 gigahertz (GHz) to listen in a radio broadcasting. That is, the digital radio receiver is a r...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a patch antenna which is capable of ensuring a directivity of an antenna in a low angle of elevation.

[0013]It is another object of the present invention to provide a patch antenna unit which is capable of reducing interference for a radiation element.

[0014]It is still another object of the present invention to provide a patch antenna which is capable of easily adjusting an antenna characteristic in the low angle of elevation.

Problems solved by technology

In general, it is understood that antennas of planer-type (plane-type) such as patch antennas are unsuited for the antenna for use in the digital radio receiver because the antennas of planer-type (plane-type) has a narrow directivity.

However, when only the ground plate is provided, it is difficult to gain the directivity of the antenna in the low angle of elevation more.

It is possible to improve an antenna characteristic in the microstrip antenna described in JP 11-284429 A. However, structure where the non-feeding elements are mounted on the top surface has large interference for a radiation element.

In addition, inasmuch as it is impossible to adjust the non-feeding elements up and down, it is happened in a case where it is impossible to satisfy a desired antenna characteristic.

Images